Fig. 1: The PCT/CT and αCGRP transcripts are overexpressed during ptOA progression.

a Gene expression analysis of the PCT/CT and αCGRP transcript in addition to the CRLR (encoded by CALCRL) in WT knees subjected to sham or ACLT surgery and harvested at the indicated time points. n = 5,6 biologically independent animals per group, presented in arbitrary units (A.U.) relative to expression of GAPDH mRNA. b Representative overview images of immunofluorescent stainings specific for PCT, CT, αCGRP, and CRLR in the proximal tibia of the knee joint 4 weeks after ACLT. Site-matched images with higher magnification are presented in red and green boxes below. Subchondral bone (SB), articular cartilage (AC) and subchondral bone marrow (BM) are indicated. Scale bar = 1st row 100 μm; 2nd and 3rd rows 25 μm. c Quantitative evaluation of the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of PCT, CT, αCGRP, and CRLR in unoperated knees (0W) as well as diseased knees at 4 and 8 weeks post-operatively. n = 6 biologically independent animals per time point as indicated. d Serum concentrations of the indicated proteins in WT mice at the indicated time points after sham or ACLT surgery as measured by ELISA. n = 5,6 biologically independent animals per group as indicated per time point. Ordinary one-way ANOVA, box plots represent median with minimum and maximum whiskers. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.